I was reading an inspirational article the other day on MSN about a woman who lost 500 pounds in 3 years... that's an average of 130 per year...
This woman talked about how her son feared coming home and finding her dead... and that her turning point... believe it or not, was the computer... She got a computer and started chatting and found that her new found friends online liked her for her thoughts, opinions, and personality--NOT HER SIZE.... She said she noticed after a while that her fingers were smaller (Probably from all of the typing)... This woman broke down in tears and cried because the kindness of faceless strangers saved her life and gave her back a life...
This woman also talked about she said "If I just lose 40 pounds I'll be happy" and then found the opposite to be just as true... If she gained 40 pounds she was momentarily happy....
I also read another article on MSN about talked about how some clothing makers are making their clothing size larger... for example a size 2 from years ago is actually a size 4 today but still labeled a size 2.... It's all about image.... that some women won't accept the fact that their hips have spread or their bodies are a little more rounded and thus refuse to believe that they would fit into anything but a 2... after all-- they have always been a 2....
I can relate to the "image" we have of our bodies... Even despite the 20 pounds and 7 inches weight loss-- I look in the mirror and I don't see any changes at all... I am afraid to give up my baggy clothes because I fear I will need them again... and in time I am sure I can give them totally up also... or use them as rags this summer to clean the buses... (I am down to X08)
I have attributed a lot of my success this time around to baby-steps... for those that have read my earlier blogs you know I've stated that a lot... These baby-steps may not sound like much-- but 20 pounds and 7 inches later they are a lot...
I stopped frying my chicken and bake/boil it instead.... I park further from the doors... I move things I use often further from my seat forcing me to get up and move more... I cut back portions-- eating off of sandwich plates or child's plates vs. platters or dinner plates...
I also have a great support system.... I have a diet partner whom I get along with (Even though she is a republican and frigid as an iceberg)... and a great support system with my online friends... and less stress this time around.... months of the empty nest has done me good...
To me it's not a race, to lose weight... but it is an opportunity.... It has taken me 30 years to put on all of this weight, and if I can lose it in 2-3 years, I will be more then thrilled... I am seeing success... even though there are days in which I feel like it is all smoke and mirrors and I am still that blob of a person-- I then look at photo's... and I can see "suttle" changes... like less double chin, my eyes more visible, and less stomach under the boobage area...
It's been an awesome journey... and I am glad I have decided to stick with this...
